Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Streetsblog SF

Major Car Restrictions, Large “Safety Zones” Come to Lower Market Street

SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin announcing private auto restrictions on Market yesterday. Photo: SFMTA
SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin announcing private auto restrictions on Market yesterday. Photo: SFMTA
false

At long last, private automobiles are prohibited from turning on to most of lower Market Street downtown. City officials implemented the change yesterday with a press conference in front of one of two large "safety zones" -- painted bulb-outs -- that were also completed as part of the "Safer Market Street" project.

SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin said broad support for getting cars off Market "shows how far we've come in San Francisco." Even the SF Chronicle called it "a sensible shift" in an editorial today. "San Francisco’s downtown needs to be a safe place that accommodates more than just cars zipping through intersections."

"I think there's been an incredible amount of consensus in City Hall and around Vision Zero and Safer Market Street," said Judson True, chief of staff for Assemblyman David Chiu, who pushed for a car-free Market on the Board of Supervisors. "We have to take more and more steps in this direction."

Parking control officers were out enforcing the turn bans today, as ABC 7 reported.

The city's largest "safety zones," as the SFMTA calls them, were installed on corners at Grant and Mason streets.

See more coverage of the turn restrictions from ABC, the SF Examiner, the Chronicle, NBC, and Hoodline.

A "safety zone" at Market and Grant Streets. Photo: SFMTA
A "safety zone" at Market and Grant Streets. Photo: SFMTA
false
Another at Market and Mason Streets. Photo: Aaron Bialick
Another at Market and Mason Streets. Photo: Aaron Bialick
false

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Metro Ridership Snapshot Suggests Added Service, Bus Lanes, and Walk/Bike Projects Increase Riders

Overall Metro ridership grew 7.5 percent year-over-year, but some rail and bus lines grew 10-20+ percent. SBLA explores factors that influenced outsized system-leading ridership increases.

November 8, 2024

Safe-Streets Politicians Gain in the Bay Area

Against the national news of suck, here's a bit more good news around the Bay Area

November 8, 2024

Friday Video: Would Our Cities Be Better Off Without Public Hearings?

Is the way America does public hearings making our cities more democratic, or obstructing the kinds of human-centered projects we need most?

November 8, 2024

Friday’s Headlines

It's climate change; Walk in L.A.; Silicon Valley ridership has recovered; LCFS debate still focusing on gas prices; More

November 8, 2024

Eyes on the Street: 57/60 Freeway Confluence Construction in Progress

New off-ramps have begun to sprout out of the dirt, and widening surface streets are going through the growing pains of construction closures

November 7, 2024
See all posts